Drug-Loaded Felting Patch Attachment for Soft Tissue Implants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical felting devices for attaching implants to soft tissue face limitations in applicability and require additional steps for drug delivery, which can lead to undesired distribution and weak mechanical connection.
Innovation Solution
A felting set comprising a felting device with a needle and a patch made of nonwoven fibers, where the fibers can be loaded with drugs and have varying degradation rates and strengths, allowing targeted drug delivery and enhanced mechanical bonding to soft tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional suturing techniques are used to attach implants to soft tissue, then the mechanical connection can be achieved, but the technique is time-consuming and causes adverse effects such as cheesewiring where the suture cuts through tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional suture system with a felting needle system that delivers fibers into the tissue. Instead of using a continuous suture thread that can cut through tissue, the system uses multiple individual fibers inserted at different angles and depths to create a distributed mechanical bond that avoids stress concentration and tissue cutting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the attachment system by using fibers with varying lengths (20-80 mm), diameters, and stiffness values. The needle delivers fibers at controlled insertion angles (10-45 degrees) and depths (0.5-5 mm) to optimize the mechanical bond while distributing stress evenly across the tissue-implant interface.
2Strength
If a patch is used for felting to achieve strong mechanical connection, then the mechanical bond is improved, but the applicability is limited and additional steps are required for drug delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into the felting needle system. The same needle that delivers fibers for mechanical attachment can also deliver drugs, growth factors, or other therapeutic agents through its lumen or surface. This eliminates the need for separate drug delivery steps and expands the system's applicability to various medical applications requiring both mechanical attachment and biological therapy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the mechanical attachment function and drug delivery function into a single integrated system. The felting needle simultaneously performs fiber insertion for mechanical bonding and substance delivery for therapeutic effect, combining what were previously separate processes into one unified operation.
3Quantity of substance
If drugs are applied prior to or after felting of the patch, then drug delivery is achieved, but the process becomes cumbersome and drugs may be distributed to undesired areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent loads drugs, growth factors, or other therapeutic substances onto the fibers before the felting process. The substances can be coated on the fiber surface, embedded within the fiber matrix, or delivered through the needle lumen during insertion. This preliminary loading ensures that the therapeutic agent is delivered precisely to the target site during the felting operation itself, eliminating the need for separate pre- or post-application steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The felting set provides a strong mechanical connection and targeted drug delivery to soft tissue, reducing operation time and minimizing adverse effects, while ensuring drugs are delivered to the desired area effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The needle may comprise at least one blade and at least one barb for delivering the fibers of the patch patched into the soft tissue
Implementation Method 2
Felting as used herein may be understood as an intertwining and/or entangling of tissue fibers and implant fibers
Implementation Method 3
The fibers may comprise the drug... Thereby, a drug may be delivered directly into the soft tissue leading to a targeted delivery of the drug
Data Source
AI summary
A felting set (1) for attaching an implant (10) to soft tissue (2). The set comprises a felting device (20) and the implant, wherein the implant comprises a patch comprising a non-woven material made of individual fibers (11), wherein the fibers have a length of 20 to 80 mm, wherein the patch comprises a drug (12). The felting device includes a needle (21) with at least one blade (22) and with at least one barb (23; 24) for delivering the fibers of the patch into the soft tissue.